03/03/2020
Security is always a concern when traveling abroad. As careful as you may be, going away often means carrying more valuables than normal – including large amounts of cash.
A prepaid travel card is a great way to ensure your money stays safe and secure when traveling abroad, especially if you don’t have a bank account. But there are so many to choose from, how do you find the best prepaid travel card for you? You want the fees to be low and not have to worry about where it’ll be accepted.
From added security to exclusive offers, discover four of the best prepaid travel cards on the market.
AAA MemberPay
Powered by Visa, AAA’s prepaid travel card can be used virtually anywhere across the globe. The card comes with Visa’s Zero Liability policy, protecting you and your money overseas against any unauthorized payments.
With AAA, you’ll also benefit from emergency cash and card replacement. You can set your own spending limits too, so you don’t accidentally overspend.
However, one of the downsides of this card is that you can be charged a foreign transaction fee when withdrawing or spending money internationally.
NetSpend
NetSpend offers customers the choice of two providers for their prepaid travel card – Visa and Mastercard. Each one comes with zero liability and is insured by the FDIC, giving you peace of mind when traveling.
There are four ways to load money onto your card. You can visit your nearest Money Services, transfer money, make a direct deposit or on your cellphone. You can also set up alerts or create budgets to manage your money when on vacation.
The card also offers payback rewards and $20 credit if you refer a friend. However, there are fees to consider including on withdrawals and reloads.
Travelex Money card
Travelex’s Mastercard prepaid travel card is well-rounded for international travel. You can load six different types of currency, including euros, pound sterling and Canadian dollars and lock in the exchange rate.
The card benefits from free ATM withdrawals and reloads, as well as contactless payments. Travelex also offers 24/7 global assistance if your card is lost or stolen and may provide you with emergency cash in the meantime.
This card comes with a set foreign exchange fee and rate, which can be lower than those in the country you’re traveling to.
WeSwap
This UK-based prepaid travel card works in 180 different countries and with 18 currencies, including across the US.
Powered by Mastercard, it’s also contactless and offers free ATM withdrawals over $200. You can exchange money instantly via their app or bank transfer and store each currency in a separate digital wallet.
However, as the card is shipped from the UK, it can take a while to arrive so may not be ideal if you’ve got a trip coming up soon. There’s also a set fee for exchanging your currency based on how soon you need it and fees for ATM withdrawals less than $200.
Kroger Prepaid Card
Kroger’s prepaid card can be used worldwide anywhere that debit cards are accepted. You can collect the same rewards anywhere in the US when shopping within the Kroger Family of Stores.
Fees apply when withdrawing money from an ATM as well as monthly fees but it’s easy to reload and accumulate points as you shop.
